Agenda item

To consider a report from the Assistant Director of Waste and Environmental Services regarding an application for construction of a new 2 Form Entry, 420 pupil place Primary School with SEN Resource Provision for 8 pupils, including associated parking and external works at Site reserved for the Eastern Primary School within the Wellesley housing development, Aldershot Urban Extension (No. 23/00729/HCC) (Site Ref: RME039)

Construction of a new 2 Form Entry, 420 pupil place Primary School with SEN Resource Provision for 8 pupils, including associated parking and external works at Site reserved for the Eastern Primary School within the Wellesley housing development, Aldershot Urban Extension (No. 23/00729/HCC) (Site Ref: RME039)

The Committee received a report from the Assistant Director of Waste and Environmental Services (item 6 in the minute book) on an application for a new Primary School near Aldershot.

The officer summarised the report, sharing a location plan with Committee that conveyed the positioning of the school within the Aldershot Urban Expansion (AUE) and the access and parking arrangements proposed on site. Elevation photos were shown to the Committee alongside plans of the school depicting the planned layout and design.

It was confirmed that no objections had been received from statutory consultees, but there had been reservations made by Sport England due to the lack of community use offered at the school, which did not form part of the planning application.

A deputation was received from the applicant, who detailed the design principles of the school and during questions of clarification it was confirmed that it was a gas-fired boiler to be installed and not a heat pump as incorrectly stated in the report. The deputation reassured the Committee that the pond area within the school grounds would be fenced for safeguarding and managed by the Academy. One Member queried the risk of highway pollutants with the school being so close to a dual carriageway and roundabout but there were plans to reduce the speed limit closer to the site (as part of the wider outline planning permission) as well as filtered ventilation being installed, which would be managed by the Academy outside of the planning process.

During questions of the officers, the following points were clarified:

·         Any extension to the school would be subject to a new planning application.

·         The climate change assessment tool had been undertaken on the basis of the installation of a gas boiler, which hadn’t triggered the requirement for a full assessment due to the efficiency of the one proposed.

·         Sport England had originally objected to the application due to the lack of sport provision and community use as a non-statutory consultee. This objection was subsequently removed.

·         Condition 17 detailed the use of the grounds by the Academy Trust and it was confirmed that the condition only applied to school use.

In debate, Members appreciated the financial restraints and felt that a portion of the Section 106 money received for such a large wider development should be used to help improve the physical design of the school. Some Members also felt that a drop-off and pick-up areas should be provided to give flexibility and take the pressure off of the local roads.

Disappointment was also shared that a gas boiler was being installed rather than a ground source heat pump.

Officers acknowledged a desire of Members to see more of the surrounding area of applications where proposals were located in areas which were still being developed and it was agreed that more virtual site visits would be investigated to help provide this context going forward for similar applications.

RESOLVED

Planning permission was granted subject to the conditions set out in

Appendix A to the report.

Voting
Favour: 9
Against: 0
Abstentions: 4